Obituaries

Mary Ziegler Hill entered into eternal rest on Thursday November 17, 2023. She was born in Long Branch to Katherine Strasburger Ziegler and Samuel Ziegler in 1946 and was raised in Oakhurst and Interlaken. She graduated from Asbury Park High School in 1964 and Coe College Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1968 with a Bachelor’s degree in education. She began her career of an elementary school teacher that year in September and taught 40 years in the Long Branch school system at Broadway, Gregory, Conrow and Elberon schools. Teaching was an advocation to Mary and she enjoyed the challenges of 1^st, 2^nd and 5^th grades.

John Louis Cavagnaro, 83, passed away on Friday, November 10, 2023 surrounded by his daughters and loving wife of 58 years.  He was born April 5, 1940 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Jean (Zmijewski) and Jack Cavagnaro.  He graduated from John Jay High School and attended Long Island University.  He was a member of the New York Stock Exchange for 44 years.

John was a man with simple needs - a good book, a baseball game, or a day with his grandchildren, whom he loved beyond words, was all he needed to be happy.

Sandra Elaine (Smith) Burdge, 87, left us on Thursday, November 9, 2023. She was born in Long Branch, New Jersey and resided in Little Silver for 77 years. Sandy graduated Red Bank High School in 1954, married her husband, Ed in October, 1955 and raised their four children in Little Silver. Sandy joined the Little Silver First Aid Squad in 1972, part of the first group of women to join. She served as a Line Officer for many years. Sandy was the Captain of the Squad in 1978, 1992 and 1993. She was also a member of the Little Silver Ladies Auxiliary having joined in 1971, President in 1990, 1991, as well as Vice President and Treasurer. She was an active member of the Tri-Counties Chapters of SPAAMFAA, holding positions of Secretary-Treasurer. She was a member of the NJ Fire Museum & Fallen Firefighters Memorial and served on the Board of Directors for many years, spending much of her free time volunteering for them. 

William H. Hyatt, Jr. (Hal) passed away unexpectedly on November 9th. He was born in East Orange, NJ and resided in Little Silver NJ. He graduated from West Orange High School, Middlebury College, Columbia Law School and received a Masters in tax law at Boston University.

At the time of his retirement, Hal, known in the business world as Bill, was a partner in the firm of K&L Gates. He concentrated on environmental law and related litigation particularly Superfund matters.  

Hal was very active in the community having served on the Rumson Borough Council, the Oceanic Free Library Trust, and the Rumson Country Day School Board of Trustees. He was a member of the Seabright Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club, the Rumson Country Club and the Seabright Beach Club. He also served on the board of directors at Skytop Lodge in the Poconos.

Claire Janet Power passed away peacefully on Monday November 6, surrounded by family. All who knew Claire remember her as a source of strength, caring, and love, and we mourn her loss.

Claire was born to Albert and Anna Chassey in Brockton, Massachusetts on August 8, 1937. The youngest of four siblings, Claire is survived by her brother Raymond. Graduating Brockton High in 1954, she soon met her future husband, Peter Power. They were wed on April 6, 1958.  

An avid lover of the arts and an accomplished artist herself, Claire taught herself to sketch, paint with oils, play piano and guitar. She combined love of music with her devotion to the church, as a member of the Saint James folk choir and later the Monmouth Civic Chorus, with whom she traveled and sang in some of the great cathedrals in Europe. Family, faith, and music were cornerstones of Claire’s life.

Willam E. Drastal, age 76, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 4, 2023, surrounded by family.

William was a loving son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He was a childhood polio survivor, with a quick, dry, unforgettable sense of humor. William worked as a sky marshal in the 1970s, a US Customs agent, and later went on to be a professional actor (member of SAG-AFTRA). He also was a Jeopardy contestant, and he was a dedicated and passionate author and playwright. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, and he was an active supporter of fellow veterans.

James R. Ientile, of Colts Neck, NJ passed away November 6, 2023 with his family by his side. Born in Summit, NJ, he lived in Chatham until the early 1960’s when his family moved to Middletown, NJ. He graduated Mater Dei High School, Middletown, NJ in 1968, and then went on to Bentley College in Waltham MA. He grew up in his family’s construction business, F.J. Ientile, Inc., and eventually ventured out on his own, founding James R. Ientile, Inc. in 1989. Jim’s passions were his business and his family. He enjoyed golf, travel and especially family dinners. He frequently traveled to his second home in Turks and Caicos Islands, where he will be missed by many good friends. He often donated his time and resources to various organizations, without looking for recognition. Those who knew him well, knew he had a heart of gold.

Hilda Melconian, of Rumson, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was 88.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 11, 1935, Hilda was the second youngest of 11 children of Armenak and Marie Berejikian. After early schooling in Beirut, she moved to New York City in 1950, and graduated from George Washington High School, then attended City College of New York.

Soon after, Hilda began a fulfilling career at the United Nations, working for the Saudi Arabian and Cambodian Missions. She married Melcon Melconian, an engineer with Mobil Oil, in 1961, and together they enjoyed a socially active life in Manhattan, Los Angeles and London. Their first son Gregory arrived in 1969, promptly followed by their second son Philip. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Princeton, New Jersey, where Mr. and Mrs. Melconian raised their children and lived for 45 years. Together with her husband, Mrs. Melconian emphasized the importance of family, faith and community service.

Philip Eugene Bagnell, 39, of New Brunswick, NJ, died October 12th 2023 in Newark, DE.

He was born in October, 1984, to Joseph and Genevieve Bagnell in Freehold, NJ. Philip proudly welcomed his daughter Winifred into the world in 2017. He married Amanda Velez-Bagnell in March, 2023. Phil worked as a Fire equipment safety inspector for more than 10 years.